Radon reduction means installing a mechanical system that pulls radon gas from beneath your home and exhausts it outside before it accumulates indoors. In Atlanta-area homes, the most common method is Active Sub-Slab Depressurization, or ASD. A certified technician drills one or more suction points through the slab, routes PVC vent pipe through the structure, and connects an inline radon fan that runs continuously. Most installations take four to eight hours, and a post-mitigation verification test confirms the result within 30 days.
Is radon really a problem in Atlanta?
Yes. The warm climate does not protect against radon. Radon comes from uranium decay in soil and bedrock, not from outdoor air temperature. North Georgia sits on granite and gneiss bedrock that releases radon into the soil year-round. Several counties in the Atlanta metro, including Cobb, Fulton, and DeKalb, carry EPA Zone 2 designations, meaning average indoor radon levels are elevated enough that testing is strongly recommended in every home. Cherokee and Forsyth counties, just north of the city, have significant granite exposure and higher radon potential. A warm climate only means your home is sealed against heat, not against soil gas.
What radon level requires mitigation in Georgia?
The EPA action level is 4.0 pCi/L, picocuries per liter, the standard unit for measuring radon in air. At or above that number, the EPA recommends mitigation. The World Health Organization sets its reference level lower, at 2.7 pCi/L, and recommends action there too. Georgia follows EPA guidance. If your test result comes back at 4.0 pCi/L or higher, mitigation is the recommended course. Results between 2.0 and 3.9 pCi/L are worth a follow-up long-term test; results that high in a home with young children or a pregnant resident often lead families to mitigate anyway. No level of radon is considered completely safe.
For county-specific context, our
Radon Level Assessment service can put your test result in the context of your specific geology and county zone.
What triggers the call: situations that lead homeowners to us
Most calls come from one of four situations.
- A home inspection during a sale returned a radon test above 4.0 pCi/L and the buyer is requiring mitigation before closing.
- A homeowner tested their own home out of curiosity and was alarmed by the result.
- A family member received a lung cancer diagnosis and the family started looking at every environmental risk in the home.
- A neighbor had mitigation done and the homeowner decided to test their own property.
In real estate transactions, timing matters. Georgia’s Seller’s Property Disclosure Act under O.C.G.A. § 44-1-16 requires sellers to disclose known material defects, and a documented high radon level qualifies. Getting mitigation done before listing removes that disclosure problem and often smooths the transaction.
How we reduce radon in Atlanta homes: the process
Every job starts with a conversation about your home’s foundation type, basement or crawl space use, and the test result that prompted the call. From there, the process follows a consistent sequence.
Site assessment. The technician inspects the slab or crawl space, identifies the best suction point locations, and checks for existing sump pits that could serve as entry points without additional drilling.
Suction point installation. For slab-on-grade and basement homes, we drill a four-inch suction pit through the concrete and confirm soil communication beneath the slab. Good soil communication means one suction point often covers the whole footprint. Dense fill or segmented foundations may need more.
Pipe routing. We run schedule-40 PVC vent pipe from the suction point through the living space or exterior wall, up to a point above the roofline or at least above any windows or doors. Interior routing is preferred because it keeps the pipe protected from weather and reduces heat loss in winter.
Fan installation. An inline radon fan is mounted on the pipe, typically in a garage, attic, or exterior location. The fan creates continuous negative pressure beneath the slab, so radon follows the path of least resistance into the pipe rather than into your living area.
Manometer installation. A U-tube pressure gauge, called a manometer, is mounted on the pipe in a visible location. If the fan ever fails, the fluid in the manometer moves and you can see at a glance that the system needs attention.
System check and documentation. We confirm airflow, record the diagnostic readings, and walk you through how the system works and what to watch for.
The full installation typically takes four to eight hours for a standard slab home. Crawl space systems take longer because of the soil gas membrane work involved.
Slab-on-grade vs. crawl space: does your foundation type matter?
It does, and Atlanta has a lot of both.
Slab-on-grade homes use Active Sub-Slab Depressurization. A suction point is drilled through the slab and the fan draws soil gas out from beneath the concrete before it enters the home through cracks or utility penetrations.
Crawl space homes use Sub-Membrane Depressurization, or SMD. A heavy-duty vapor barrier, sometimes called a soil gas membrane, is sealed across the crawl space floor and up the walls. A fan then draws radon from beneath the membrane and exhausts it outside. The membrane also reduces moisture intrusion, which is a separate but common crawl space problem in Georgia.
Homes with an existing sump pump pit can often use sump pit depressurization, which routes the system through the existing penetration and avoids drilling a new suction point.
If you want to understand your specific situation before committing to a system, our
Residential Radon Testing service is where to start.
What does radon mitigation cost in Atlanta?
We do not publish a flat price here because the cost depends on your foundation type, the number of suction points required, the pipe routing path, and whether exterior or interior installation makes more sense for your home. Crawl space systems with membrane installation cost more than a single-suction-point slab job. Homes with complex footprints or finished basements take longer. The post-mitigation verification test is a separate cost.
What we can say: get a written quote that itemizes the system components, the installation labor, and the follow-up test. Any legitimate radon contractor will provide that before you commit.
Homeowners who ask about cost often also want to know about insurance, which comes up next.
Does homeowners insurance cover radon mitigation in Georgia?
Generally, no. Standard homeowners insurance policies treat radon mitigation as a home improvement, not a sudden or accidental loss. Some policies have environmental riders, but radon mitigation is rarely included. We recommend calling your insurer directly to confirm your specific policy terms. In a real estate transaction, mitigation costs are frequently negotiated into the sale price or covered by the seller as a concession.
What is the difference between a short-term and long-term radon test?
A short-term test, typically using a charcoal canister, runs for two to seven days under closed-house conditions. Windows and exterior doors stay closed for at least 12 hours before and during the test. Short-term tests give a quick snapshot and are standard in real estate transactions.
A long-term test uses an alpha track detector and runs for 90 days to a year. Because radon levels fluctuate with seasons, weather, and home ventilation patterns, a long-term test gives a more accurate picture of your family’s actual year-round exposure.
For a real estate transaction, a short-term test under closed-house conditions is what buyers and sellers typically use. For a homeowner who tested low but wants more confidence, a long-term test is the better follow-up.
Our
Certified Radon Testing service covers both formats.
Which radon test is required when buying or selling a home in Atlanta?
Georgia has no state law mandating radon testing during a real estate transaction, but buyers routinely request it as part of the inspection contingency. When a test is required by contract, it is almost always a short-term test under closed-house conditions, placed in the lowest livable level of the home. Results above 4.0 pCi/L typically trigger a mitigation requirement before closing or a price negotiation.
Sellers who want to get ahead of this can test and mitigate before listing. A documented post-mitigation result below 2.0 pCi/L is a stronger selling point than a home with no test history.
After installation: what the post-mitigation verification test confirms
Once the system is installed, we recommend a post-mitigation verification test within 30 days. This is a short-term test placed in the same location as the original. It confirms the system is working and documents the new radon level.
A well-installed ASD system typically reduces indoor radon levels by a significant amount. The goal is a result below 4.0 pCi/L, and most properly installed systems bring levels well below that. If the post-mitigation result is still elevated, the system may need an additional suction point or a higher-capacity fan.
The manometer on your system lets you do a quick daily check between formal tests. If the fluid levels look off, call us before scheduling a new test.
Our full range of environmental health services, including testing, assessment, and mitigation, is described on our
Environmental health service Services page.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a radon mitigation system last?
The PVC pipe has no moving parts and lasts indefinitely under normal conditions. The radon fan is the only mechanical component and typically lasts between five and ten years depending on the model and installation environment. Fans can be replaced without disturbing the pipe or suction point.
Will the system run up my electric bill?
Radon fans are low-wattage. Most draw between 20 and 90 watts continuously. The annual cost is modest, typically less than a few standard light bulbs running all year.
Can I install a radon mitigation system myself?
DIY kits exist, but improper suction point placement, wrong fan sizing, or inadequate pipe routing can leave areas of the slab with no coverage and give you a false sense of security. A post-mitigation test done by a certified technician is the only way to confirm the system actually reduced radon to an acceptable level.
Do I need NRPP or NRSB certified contractors?
For documentation purposes, yes. NRPP and NRSB certifications mean the contractor has passed standardized testing in radon science and mitigation technique and follows ANSI/AARST standards. In a real estate transaction, some lenders and buyers specifically require certified contractors.
What counties do you serve around Atlanta?
We serve Fulton, Cobb, DeKalb, Clayton, Douglas, Forsyth, Newton, Pickens, Gordon, and Hall counties. If you are not sure whether your area is covered, call and we will confirm.
